Guide-rail lubricator



Sept. 20, E WE'GELE GUIDE RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed Aug. l5, 1923 Patented Sept. 2,0, 1927.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND WEIGELE, F BERGENFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 RAYMOND WINSHIP BRISTCL. DOING BUSINESS AS ATLAS ELEVATOB.

DEVICES' C0., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

GUIDE-BAIL LUBRICATOB.

Application tiled August 15, 1923. 'Serial No. 657,481.

This invention relates to lubricators for elevator guide rails, such as the rails for the elevator car and counterweights, and involves the wprovision of improvements in l the construction and operation of such lubricators, particularl of the type described ,in Letters Patent o. 1,294,7 33 issued to me on February 18, 1919.

Lubricators, or Oilers, of this type are l0 secured atthe'top of the guide rail, and in the overhead as by means of set screws permitting their easy adjustment in position and removal. Oil is fed to the rails and moves down under the action of gravity.

l VThis-type of lubricator I have termed the stationary type as distinguished from the traveling ty e attached to the car and feeding oil to tiie guide rails as the car travels up and down the shaft. y In the guide rail lubricator shown in my Patent No. 1,294,733, I employed a reservoir for the lubrlcant having therein three tubes threaded throu h-the bottom of the reservoir and exten in g` upwardly to a point near its top, outer tubes secured to the inner reservoir tubes and bent toward the guide rail, a resilient `feederextending through the outer and inner tubes and contacting with a face of the guide rail and a wick projecting within the inner tube and having an end extending into the reservoir. The wick in this case consisted of a relatively thick single strand of twisted fibrous material or thread substantially filling the inner reservoir tube, one such wick being provided for each tube. A sin le wick o this description will Siphon oi from the reservoir to the feeder at a certain rate depending upon the level of oil in the reservoir; and the rate of ilow,it has been found in practice, will be at a maximum when the reservoir is full and decrease as the level descends. -The quantity of oil which must be supplied to a guide rail, sayin a period of twent -four hours, to secure pro er lubrica tion epends upon the height o `the building, the speed of the car and the weight of oil used. The rate of oil feed should therefore be regulable in accordance with these conditions. With the old t pe of stationary lubricator employing wic s consisting of a single stran the rate of oil feed could not be regulated and this was found, in the practical use of the device, to be a serious defect vfrequently resulting in a waste of oil due to too great a feed or insuiiicient lubrication because of too slow a feed. -Moreover, with both the old and the new forms of wicks diiculty was experienced in inserting the wicks in the reservoir tubes when re lacing them, for example, and it frequent y happened that the wicks after insertlon became displaced and even slipped out of the tubes entirely, resultin in 1mpaired and unreliable operation. n expedient commonly resorted to by mechanics attending the elevators was to tie knots in the wicks to hold them in place Within the tubes and` this almost always brought about a com lete stoppage of oil iiow.

T e present invention has for its object the provision of means for overcoming these defects in the operation of the earlier form of lubricator heretofore described besides introducing some changes in producin a more simplied, commercial and satis actorv device.

ike in the earlier lubricator, the present form has a reservoir for the lubricant hav-` ing outlets to the guide rail, in which there are ducts or tubes preferably extending from a point near the top of the reservoir and communicating with the outlets therein. Instead, however, of having a single thick wlck composed of one strand of material, the wick for each duct, in accordance with this invent-ion, consists of a lurality of individual strands, each strand, for example, being made u of a twisted fibrous material or thread. Aso, for each duct there is the feeder, preferably of resilient material such as a spring metal strip, extending through the duct and reservoir outlet to the guide rail, to which oil is fed from the reservoir by means of the wick. If the rate of oil flow with this form of wick is too great or too small at any oil level within the reservoir, the oil iiow may be readily increased or decreased by addin orsubtracting one or more strands of wie and since the individual strands are relatively thin or of small diameter it is found possible to make all necessary ad'ustments, within practical requirement y this manipulation of the wick stran In one form of construction, which has been found convenient and to 've satisfactory results, the individual wi strands are looped or doubled back, the looped portion projecting into the duct or tube and the free ends of the wick extending into the reservoir. The strands composing the wick for each duct are secured therein by means associated with the feeder which prevents their displacement or accidental removal. A simple device for securing the wick strands, and one which is preferred. is to form the feeder of flat spring metal with a loop spaced from its end so as to take a position, when the feeder is in place in the tube, an appropriate distance from the top thereof, and the strands composing the wick are doubled through this loop running upwardly over the top of the tube with the. free ends hanging in the reservoir. It will be understood, of course, that any suitable fastening means formed with the feeder itself, or secured thereto, may be employed to secure the wick strands within the duct.

The feeder is furthermore provided, in the preferred construction, with a hook at its end for engaging the top of the duct or tube to secure it in place, and the ducts or tubes, one for each face of the guide rail, preferably are in the form of passageways cast integrally with the reservoir.

The invention is illustrated in the aecompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lubricator with its improved features shown secured to a guide rail.

Fig. 2 is a to sectional view of the lubricator and gui e rail.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in elevation of the lubricator and guide rail.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the feeder with two wick strands attached thereto.

Referring to the drawings. the lubricator, indicated generally by the reference character 5. is shown secured near the upper end of a guide rail 6 by means of set screws 7. The reservoir 8 of the lubricator is formed with a channel 9 to receive the guide rail 6, and the set. screws 7 run through this channelled portion of the reservoir on each side and abut against the guide rail at 10, as shown in Figure 2. A top cover plate 11 is provided for the reservoir which is hinged at the outer side of the reservoir as at 12 so that the latter may be readily7 opened for the introduction of a sup ly of oil.

Cast integrally wit the reservoir and extending upwardy along the inner walls of the channel 9 are three conduits or ducts, 13, 14 and 15.` leading to corresponding o enings in the bottom of the reservoir. onnected to these ducts or passages 13, 14 and 15, or rather to the corresponding bottom openings of the reservoir, are three external tubes 13. 14 and a third tube similar to 13, 14 and 15, leading to corresponding o enrail, which tubes extend downwardly rom the reservoir and are bent inwardly toward the three faces of the guide rail. For each of the ducts or passages 13, 14 and 15 there is provided wicks 13b, 14" and wicks for the duct corresponding to 13b on the opposite face of the guide rail, which wicks are arranged to enter the ducts and to extend part way down each of them with their opposite ends suspended in the reservoir. n accordance with this invention the wicks 13", 14", etc. are comprised of a plurality of individual strands 16, each length or strand being doubled back upon itself as shown at 17, with the free ends thereof suspended below the level of the oil 21 in the reservoir.

The oil taken up from the reservoir by the wick is fed to a resilient feeder 18. one for each of the conduits 13, 14 and 15. This resilient feeder is provided with a loop 19 spaced an appropriate distance from the end thereof, which latter has a hook 20. The hook 20 is adapted to engage the upper edge of the conduit or passage to secure the feeder in place and the feeder extends down through the conduit and outer extension tubing with a length projecting outwardly and in contact with the face of the guide rail as is plainly shown in Figures 1 and 3. The wick strands 13", 14", etc. are looped or doubled back as described by threading them through the loop 17 with which the resilient feeder is provided and the spacing of this loop from the end of the feeder is such as to carry the looped ends of the wicks sufficiently far down into the conduit to provide an average feed to insure a pro er oil How. The loop 17 on the resilient eecilzr provides a convenient and eective means of both introductig the wick strands into the conduit and for securing them in proper position against accidental displacement. Moreover the difference in the columns of oil in the wick strands inside and outside of the conduit is regulated and maintained for a given type of lubricator.

It will be readily understood that the rate of oil flow may with thistform of wick be easily and accurately regulated to suit the requirements dependent upon such considerations as the height of a building, the s eed of the car and the weight of oil used.

his is accomplished simply by removing one or more strands where the oil flow is found to be too rapid or adding additional strands Where it is desired to lncrease the rate of ow.

I claim- 1. A lubricator for elevator guide rails comprising a reservoir having a re-entrant portion in one wall thereof extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the reservoir, a pair of laterally arranged set screws threaded into said reservoir for clamping the reservoir in stationary position upon the guide rail to be lubricated, with the faces of said rail within said reentrant portion of the reservoir, and means for continuously feeding lubricant from the reservoir to the surfaces of said rail while the lubricator remains in the stationary position.

2. A lubricator for elevator guide rails comprising a. reservoir having a re-entrant portion in the rear wall thereof substantially midway between the side walls of the reservoir, said re-entrant portion having substantially parallel faces and extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the reservoir, a set screw extending laterally from each face of said re-entrant portion to oneof the side walls of the reservoir for clamping the reservoir in stationary position upon the guide rail with the faces of said rail within said re-cntrant portion of the reservoir, and means for continuously feedinglubricant from the reservoir to the surfaces of said rail while the lubricator remains in the stationary position.

3. Avlubrieator for elevator guide rails comprising a reservoir having a re-entrant portion in the rear wall thereof, said re-entrant portion having substantially flat faces extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the reservoir, a set screw extending laterally from each face of said re-entrant portion to one of the side walls of the reservoir for clamping the reservoir in stationary `cant from the reservoir to the sur position u n the guide rail with the faces of said rai within said ria-entrant portion of the reservoir, means for continuously removing lubricant to the exterior of said reservoir, and flexible resilient feeders for conveying the oil thus removed to the surfaces of said guide rail while the lubricator remains in the stationary position upon said rail.

4. A lubricator for elevator guide rails comprising a reservoir having a re-entrant portion in' the rear wall thereof extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the reservoir, a set screw extending from each side wall of the reservoir to said re-entrant portion for clamping the reservoir in sta.- tionary position upon the guide rail with the faces of said rail within said re-entrant portion of the reservoir, said set screws being disposed adjacent the rear wall of the reservoir, the portion of said wall above the set screws being disposed to the rear of said screws, and the portion of said wall below said screws being disposed in front thereof, and means for continuously feeding lubriaces of said rail while the lubricator remains in stationary position upon the rail.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

EDMUN D WEIGELE.

entrant rtion of the reservoir, and means for continuously feeding lubricant from the reservoir to the surfaces of said rail while the lubricator remains in the stationary position.

2. A lubricator for elevator guide rails comprising a reservoir having a re-entrant portion in the rear wall thereof substantially midway between the side Walls of the reservoir, said re-entrant portion having substantially parallel faces and extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the reservoir, a set screw extending laterally from each face of said re-entrant portion to one of the side walls of the reservoir for clamping the reservoir in stationary position upon the guide rail with the faces of said rail Within said re-entrant portion of the reservoir, and means for continuously feeding lubricant from the reservoir to the surfaces of said rail while the lubricator remains in the stationary position.

3. A lubricator for elevator guide rails comprising a reservoir having a re-entrant portion in the rear wall thereof, said re-en trant portion having substantially flat faces extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the reservoir, a set screw extending laterally from each face of said re-entrant portion to one of the side Walls of the reservoir for clamping the reservoir in stationary position u n the guide rail with the faces of said rai within said re-entrant portion of the reservoir, means for continuously removing lubricant to the exterior of said reservoir, and flexible resilient feeders for conveying the oil thus removed to the surfaces of said guide rail while the lubricator renliains 1n the stationary position upon said ral 4. A lubricator for elevator guide rails comprising a reservoir having a re-entrant portion in the rear wall thereof extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the reservoir, a set screw extending from each side wall of the reservoir to said re-entrant portion for clamping the reservoir in stationary position upon the guide rail with the faces of said rail within said re-entrant portion of the reservoir, said set screws being disposed adjacent the rear wall of the reservoir, the ortion of said wall above the set screws being disposed to the rear of said screws, and the portion of said wall below said screws being disposed in front thereof, and means for continuously feedin lubricant from the reservoir to the sur aces of said rail while the lubricator remains in stationary position upon the rail.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

EDMUND WEIGELE.

Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,643,038.

Granted September 20, 1927, to

EDMUND WEIGELE.

It is hereby certified that in page 2, lines 63 and 64,

error appears in the numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

strike out the numerals and words rinted specification of the aboveage 1, line T8, strike out the word 13, 14 and 15,

leading to corresponding open-rail, and insert instead 13a., but on the o posite face of the guide 11ML; same page, line 102, for the misspelled word intro( uctig read introducing; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same Office.

may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 18th day of October, A. D. 1927.

M. J. MOORE, Acting Conmssaimwr of Patents.

Certicate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,643,038. Granted September 20. 1927, to EDMUND VVEIGELE.

lt is hereby certlied that error appears in the I'inted specification of the abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: age 1, line 78, strike out the word in page 2, lines 63 and 64, strike out the numerals and words 13, 14 and l, leading to oorreeponding open-rail, and insert instead 13 but 0n the o posit@ face 0f the guide 1nd,; same page, line 102, for the misspell word intro( uct-ig read introducing; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these cortions therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent ce. Signed and sealed this 18th day of October, A. D. 1927.

[am] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Uonmzim'mwr of Patents. 

